South Sudan on Brink of Civil War as 300,000 Flee Renewed Fighting Between Rival Leaders

The United Nations has sounded the alarm over South Sudan’s deepening political and humanitarian crisis, warning that the escalating conflict between President Salva Kiir and his suspended First Vice President Riek Machar could plunge the young nation back into full-scale civil war. According to the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, about 300,000 people have fled the country since the beginning of 2025, seeking refuge in neighbouring nations as violence spreads across multiple regions.

In a statement released on Monday, the UN commission described the situation as “deeply alarming” and urged immediate regional intervention to prevent the world’s youngest country from collapsing into another devastating war. “The ongoing political crisis, increasing fighting and unchecked, systemic corruption are all symptoms of the failure of leadership,” said Commissioner Barney Afako, warning that the international community must act swiftly to avert catastrophe.

South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of conflict, has struggled with political instability, economic decline, and recurring ethnic violence. The latest wave of unrest stems from the deteriorating relationship between Kiir and Machar, whose fragile power-sharing agreement—established after the 2013–2018 civil war—has all but collapsed.

The crisis escalated in March when fighting broke out between the national army and an ethnic Nuer militia loyal to Machar in the northeastern town of Nasir. The clashes left dozens dead and displaced over 80,000 people. Soon after, Machar was placed under house arrest, and in September he was charged with treason, murder, and crimes against humanity. His legal team has dismissed the charges as politically motivated, arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction.

President Kiir formally suspended Machar in early October, effectively ending the already fragile peace deal. The move has reignited tensions between rival factions within the military and along ethnic lines, raising fears of another prolonged civil war similar to the one that killed nearly 400,000 people between 2013 and 2018.

Since the renewed fighting began, nearly 150,000 South Sudanese have fled north into Sudan—where a separate civil war continues to rage—while another 150,000 have sought safety in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya. The UN estimates that more than 2.5 million South Sudanese refugees now live in neighbouring countries, with an additional two million people internally displaced.

Human rights experts say the crisis is driven not only by political rivalry but also by systemic corruption and the lack of accountability among South Sudan’s leaders. Commission Chairwoman Yasmin Sooka condemned what she described as “deliberate choices made by its leaders to put their interests above those of their people,” adding that the country’s institutions have been hollowed out by greed and impunity.

A UN report released in September exposed staggering corruption within the government, alleging that over $1.7 billion from an oil-for-roads infrastructure programme remains unaccounted for. The same report found that three-quarters of South Sudan’s population faces severe food insecurity, with millions at risk of famine as violence disrupts agriculture and humanitarian aid deliveries.

“The people of South Sudan are suffering from a crisis entirely of their leaders’ making,” said Afako. “Without immediate engagement from the African Union and neighbouring states, South Sudan risks catastrophic consequences that will reverberate across the region.”

Regional actors, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union, are under pressure to mediate between Kiir and Machar to prevent the fragile state from imploding once again. Despite international appeals, both sides appear entrenched in their positions, and fighting has intensified in key oil-producing areas, threatening to destabilize the broader East African region.

As the conflict deepens, humanitarian agencies warn that the mass displacement could trigger one of Africa’s largest refugee crises in recent years. Camps in Uganda and Ethiopia are already stretched beyond capacity, while violence within South Sudan continues to displace thousands each week.

With food shortages, political persecution, and widespread violence on the rise, the United Nations’ message is clear: South Sudan is at a breaking point, and without decisive regional and international action, the world’s youngest nation may once again descend into chaos.